New certificates: TWU\'s Ottawa internship program now more tangible than ever

    /24-7PressRelease/ - LANGLEY, BC, CANADA, August 19, 2005 —For students hungry for an insider's edge in politics, business and the media, Trinity Western University has added a new component to its Ottawa-based internship program. The Laurentian Leadership Centre (LLC) is pleased to announce the establishment of two LLC certificates available to students who complete the semester-long program: (1) The Certificate in Leadership and Applied Public Affairs and (2) The Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Applied Public Affairs. And this program isn't just for TWU students—it's available to students across Canada and from the U.S.

"LLC students have come not only from TWU, but from other Canadian Universities—including UBC, University of Alberta, Lethbridge and Redeemer University College—and around the world. It's been a mixed crowed and we'd like to see more of that," says Paul Wilson, LLC Executive Director. "The addition of the Certificate will give LLC students a tangible product to take away. It enables them to intern on Parliament Hill or in other professional settings while obtaining documentation that benchmarks their accomplishments and gives them another resume-building tool."

Trinity Western's LLC, a recently renovated heritage mansion only minutes from Ottawa's Parliament Hill, is home base for up to two dozen students each semester. The students take the same classes in ethics, leadership and public policy, but their internship placements represent a diverse range of possibilities, depending on each student's areas of interest and expertise. In the past, they have worked with dozens of parliamentarians—including Stephen Harper, Pierre Pettigrew, Joe Clark, and Bev Desjarlais—interned with international corporations, NGO's, banks and foreign embassies. One intern even hosted her own radio show.

"We're excited to offer this kind of extension program to students, many of whom are from western Canada and wouldn't have access to learning in the capital region other-wise," says Paul Wilson, Executive Director, LLC. He says the program allows students to experience the real work up close and personal. "There are no photocopier tans here," he says. "What these students work on makes a difference. They've done everything from speech writing for MP's, to designing presentations to sealing million dollar business deals."

Since its recent establishment in 2002, the LLC has played a big role in furthering the careers of its alumni. It set David Kim apart for selection for an internship with the UN; it got Ranelle Massie noticed for an appointment with the Leader of the Official Opposition in Parliament; and it helped Matt Redshaw land a prestigious 18 month graduate internship program with Hewlett Packard in England.

"The Laurentian Leadership Institute is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the best internship programs on the Hill," says Preston Manning, who has spoken at LLC classes several times. "The mix of interning with applicable class work enables students to study leadership in the administrative, diplomatic and political environment of our nation's capital. It will be of great benefit to the students and in turn, those students will greatly benefit our country."

And students are already benefiting. "Working in an MP's office radically changed my perception of how our country runs," says Timothy Visscher, TWU international studies student, former intern for Hon. David Kilgour, MP, then Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific. "Being plunged into the middle of a busy office where constituent concerns and Canadian issues were taken seriously showed me that people really can promote change in this country. It also gave me a deep rooted confidence in the possibilities of shooting for the stars in attaining one's goals."

The LLC program is designed for third or fourth year students in communications, history, and international and political studies, though students in all areas of study are taking advantage of the experience. "The LLC is something that students can benefit from no matter what their academic discipline," says Wilson. "It's about learning how to make a difference in our chosen profession and in our nation, no matter what we're doing. This is especially important for western Canadian students, who often know about Ottawa and national life from a great distance."

Trinity Western University, located in Langley, B.C., is a not-for-profit Christian liberal arts university enrolling over 3,500 students this year. With a broad based, liberal arts and sciences curriculum, the University offers undergraduate degrees in 38 major areas of study ranging from business, education and computer science to biology and nursing, and 14 other graduate degrees including counselling psychology, theology and administrative leadership. For more information: http://www.twu.ca, 604) 888-7511

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